Display-rack.



No. 655,98l. Patented Aug. I4, |900.

' C. LIETZ. Y

DISPLAY BACK.

(Application filed Dec. 11, 1899.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m R\ S iQ Mb N TH: Nonms PETzRs cva.4 moro-LITRO.. wAsHlNcTaN, n. c.

No. 655,98l. Patentd Aug. I4, |900. c. LIETz.

DISPLAY BACK.

(Application led Dec. 11, 1899.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

1 Nonms Pneus cc., PHoTourHo., wAsr-uNnTaN. D. c.

UNTTED! STATES PATENT Ormea.

CHARLES LIETZ, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS;

DISPLAY-RACK.

'SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,981, dated August 14, 1900.2

Application led December 11, 1899. Serial No. 739,945. (No model.) i

To LU whom, t mia/y con/cerro; Be it known that I, CHARLES LIETZ, of Anrora, in the county of Kane, and in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use-' ful Improvements in Display-Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective View of my display-rack with the samples of sheet material in their position forstorage. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my display-rack with several of the samples of sheet material displayed in position for inspection, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the clasps used with my display-rack.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of thel figures.

The object of my invention is to provide a device forf'displaying samples of sheet materials, such as fabrics and paper, in such manner as to enable them to be readily inspected and yet to save handling and the soiling resulting therefrom in the ordinaryway of displaying them. For instance, lace curtains, tapestries, shawls, table-linen, and blankets are among the fabrics which may be to great advantage displayed by my device, and maps and wall-paper are the form of articles made from paper to the display of which my device mostreadily lends itself.

My invention consists in the combinations and devices hereinafter specified and claimed.

My display-rack comprises a Wire, strip of of wood, or other long slender body A, which is adapted to extend and in the case of the wire to be stretched tightly between two supports B and-B, such as Ythe wallsI of a room. The samples O and C are suspended from the wireAby devices which in the instance shown consist each of a piece of wire bent to form double hooks D and D to engage the wire and a loop-shaped shank E, from which the sample C is suspended. The' double hooks are separated by a space equalJ to the distance by which'it is desired to have each' sample exposed beyond its neighbor. The ends of the Wire after forming the double hooks D and D are bent to abut against each other, and are thus prevented fromv catching on the fabric. The ends may, if desired, be soldered together. The sheet material to be exhib# ited is secured to a light pole F. For this purpose I have shown spring-clasps G and G; but any other convenient device may be used, or, if the sample is thrown across the pole so that half of the sample hangs on each side thereof, no fastening but the vdevice by which it is suspended need be used. The central spring-clasp G is suspended by a cord or other flexible connection H from the shank of the double hooks D and D on the wire. The spring-clasp I have shown comprises two rectangular frames of Wire I, each having an eye yKrat or near the center of its longer sides, the

eye K being formed by a coil of. the wire which forms the side and being in a plane that is perpendicular to the body of the frame. The four eyes K onthe rectangles are placed in line with each other,the eyes K on one frame being between the eyes K on the opposite frame, and a straight section L of wire is p. lpassed through the four eyes and has its ends riveted or soldered in the outer eyes K, thus forming a pintle-wire. yA coil-spring M surrounds the pintle-wire and has its ends N and N attached, respectively, to each ot' the frames. The lower ends O and O of the frames are bowed to inclose between them a space that is elliptical in cross-section. The upper ends of the frames are bent away from each other to form handles P and P,whichwhen pressed toward each other will spread the lower or jaw ends of the frames. An eye Q is formed in one of the handles P, by Vwhich the clasp may be suspended, the eye being formed by coiling the wire thereof. The meeting ends of the Wires of the frames may be soldered `together or they may be united by a sleeve R, of sheet metal, into which the ends may be thrust and'in which they may, if desired, be soldered. Acord W is attached to each of the spring-clasps G and Gfor use in drawing the individual samples into view without the necessity of taking hold of the samples by the hand.

On the wire A7 preferably at its right-hand end, is a block S, which tits loosely and-is adapted to slide thereon.' This block has a longitudinal hole S' through its center, 1ateral communication with which hole is provided by a longitudinal slot S2, extending from the surface to the central hole. Two

IOO

screw-eyes T and T are screwed into the block'S, so that their points extend across and obstruct the slot S2. When the block S has been placed upon the Wire A, by causing the latter to pass through the slot S2 into the central hole S' the screw-eyes are turned until their points extend across the slot S2, and the block S is thus fastened on the Wire. To one of the screw-eyes T and T is secured a cord U, which is passed to the opposite end of the wire A, Where it is passed over a sheave V upon the support for that end of the wire and below the latter.

The operation of my device is as follows: The samples to be exhibited are secured to the poles F and F by the use near the ends of the poles of my spring-clasps G and G or by the use of any other suitable fastening means. The poles F and F are then secured at their centers in the spring-clasps G and G, which are suspended from the double hooks D and D on the wire A. The samples C and C are placed at the left-hand end of the Wire A, each sample C nearly entirely overlapping its neighbor and hanging at a horizontal oblique angle to the wire. In this position the samples occupy very little space, and a large number can be hung on a comparatively-short length of wire. When it is desired to exhibit one or more of the samples, the cord W', which hangs from the support for the sample, is pulled to the right until the desired sample and all that precede it are carried far enoughl to the right to expose the sample that is Wanted. A sucient length of wire can be provided to enable several samples to be shown at one time. "When it is desired to restore the samples to their original or storage position, it is only necessary todraw on the cord W, which is attached to the block S and passes over the sheave V. The block S will thus be forced to crowd the double hooks E and E, and with them all of the samples C and C, to the left-hand end of the wire yA. I am thus enabled to exhibit the samples and restore them to storage position without touching them with the hands, and consequently to keep them from the soiling which they receive from the common Way of exhibiting them.

By hanging the samples from the wire in a position such that they are inclined to the wire I am enabled to hang on a single Wire a large number of samples, and they are so arranged that the edge of each sampleis exposed between its neighbors, so that it is easy to find any particular one. With my display-rack I also economize space transversely to the wire, for the thickness through the group of samples is comparatively slight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a display-1'ack, the combination of a horizontal support, carriers movable along said support, a flexible connection attached to each of such carriers, a clasp attached to each of said fiexible connections, and a pole supported at its middle by such clasp, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a display-rack, the combination of a horizontal support, broad hooks movable along said support, a flexible connection attached to the shank of each of such hooks, a clasp attached to each of such fiexible connections, and a pole carried at its middle by each of said clasps, substantially as 'and for the purpose described.

3. In a display-rack, the combination of a horizontal wire, broad hooks movable along said wire, a flexible lconnection attached t0 the shank of each of such hooks, a clasp attached to each of such flexible connections, and a pole carried at its middle by each of said clasps, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a display-rack, the combination of a support, carriers movable along said support, means attached to such carriers for suspending objects of considerable breadth as compared with their thickness, a block having a central bore for receiving said support and having a slot opening from such bore to the surface of said block, means for closing said slot, and means for moving said block along said support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, A. D. 1899.

CHARLES LIETZ.

Vitncsses:

C. H. GROMETER, E. T. PRINDLE. 

